Monday, December 11, 2017

The Conley’s inaugural CBC Christmas Program!! And they did outstanding! The children at our church spent the last month or so preparing for a thirty minute Gospel presentation through song, and it was maybe the sweetest and most adorable thing I’ve seen! Bearett is thriving and growing daily. Seeing him up there gave us such encouragement and hope, and confidence too, knowing that just a few short months ago, it would’ve been it’s own task to keep him from completely stealing the show!

Amelia too, we are so proud of. She was the youngest kid on stage and fit right in! They memorized the songs “Good News” and “Go Tell it on the Mountain,” and sang both with joy.

As it was our first experience with having children on stage, we were giddy and couldn’t stop smiling. Laughing too. I will never again make the mistake of sending a two year old up in front of an audience...in a dress and without tights. I’m pretty sure the whole church got a glimpse of her undies on multiple occasions, when she decided to either pull it up with her own fidgety hands or when she was dancing along. WHOOPS!

Still pondering how she managed to hike her dress up that high when the thing goes past her knees when she’s still! Eeeeeep!

Ella Mae was giggling with Dada and I too. So fun. So funny. I just love our church so much.

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Two and a half years ago, none of this was our reality. We’ve known the Allens now for over five years and remember fondly, the memories we’ve shared in that span. From introductory fruit pizza cookies to Frank-sitting (their dog) to football nights, Abacoa festivals, church attending, shopping sprees, baseball games, softball games too. The list goes on. And now, we’ve added five beautiful souls to the mix and I just am in awe looking back on it all. What a treasure it is to see them all together for the first time. We love you, dear friends, and we wish you lived closer. Maybe someday again.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

My two year old wakes up to her little baby and reads to her most mornings. This is real life. And I love it.

And this is real life too. Welcome to the beginning of the 2018 season. December 8th and Dad is feeling like a whole new (and better) version of his old self again. “Papa Pete,” as the kids have coined him, sure helped direct Daddy’s efforts the past couple days. We’re so thankful for their long-time relationship and that he was available to come out to assist in the instruction of proper mechanics as Adam begins throwing. We’ll fly him back once more in January when Adam starts pitching on a mound again. We look forward to his visit!

Dad! You look big and strong!

Well, that’s because he is! He’s already had at home weigh ins at 210 pounds and we’re hoping to gain at least five more by February. It’s taken much effort on all our parts, but Daddy is stronger than ever before and he’s seeing gains in all areas of his work (and truly, in all areas of his life).

We’re excited and enjoying our time together this offseason, as it’s been incredibly fruitful. We’re closer than we’ve ever been. The kids are thriving. Our family is united. We’re growing tremendously in our pursuit of Biblical truth. And we’re just desiring to continue in obedience and contentment wherever we’re directed.

The Lord has given us so much and our hearts posture is that led by gratefulness.

Friday, December 8, 2017

I’d say about three or four of every seven nights, Amelia makes it through the night in her own bed. The other half usually end at about 4AM when a tiny pitter patter of feet come running into our room. We have a California king, but she’s ALWAYS slept like the horizontal part of an H, so everyone else ends up crunched, even in a gigantic bed. I guess it would probably do us all a favor if I or Adam just carried her back into her bedroom and put her back to sleep, but we’re just not that motivated at 4AM most times. And so, we sleep the extra couple hours until 6:30 and sometimes if they’re feeling extra gracious, they’ll stay asleep long enough for me to prepare Adam’s breakfast and study my Bible. We’re on three days in a row currently. Woooo!

But those nights she decides to crawl in with the three of us, well, let’s just say we’re grateful for Dr. Lucas to unkink all the kinks she contorts us into!

We’re so grateful we’ve found someone who cares as passsionately about our children’s health as he does.

These babes are some healthy and robust gremlins and we owe much of that to this man right here. Thank you Uncle Lucas!!